West Nairobi School vs Woodland Star International School

	W West Nairobi School Nairobi, Kenya	W Woodland Star International School Nairobi, Kenya
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KES 3,280 - 15,510	Fees / year KES 8,505 - 23,000
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum American Curriculum, Australian Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 390	Pupils 150
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size 13
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 18 Miotoni Ln, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. The postal address is P.O. Box 1333-00502. Tel. +254 709-331-000.	Location Located in Tigoni, Limuru, Kenya, not far from Nairobi. The campus sits within Brackenhurst Botanic Garden and is surrounded by 40 acres of indigenous forest and tea fields. Brackenhurst Botanic Garden holds ArbNet Level III status, one of only 22 such gardens worldwide, and hosts over 500 tree species. The forest is home to 180 bird species and the Black and White Colobus Monkey.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten to 12th grade, with a Pre-Kindergarten class for students aged 4-5.	Stages Early Years; Primary Years; Middle Years; High School
School type	School type Private, co-educational, day school with a North American curriculum.	School type International day school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix The student body represents about 30 nationalities.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support English Language Learner (ELL) classes, Educational Resource Services (ERS), and remedial programs are provided as needed.	Additional learning support Learning support is provided; the school welcomes students with special educational needs and provides support on a case-by-case basis.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Kenya
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Christian.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure School hours Monday through Friday are 07:45 to 16:15.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Transport is available around Nairobi for an additional fee. Main routes include Runda Route, ABC Route, Riara Route, Kasuku Centre, Yaya Route, Langata Route, and Safari Park.	Bus service details Transport is provided in partnership with African Encounter Travel (AET). Routes include Tigoni, Runda, Rosslyn, General Mathenge, Tilisi, and other nearby areas.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - The non-refundable application and testing fee is USD 185. - A one-time New Student / Capital Levy fee of USD 1,000 is charged for new enrollments. Tuition fees (per semester and per year, by year group) — 2025/26 academic year - Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC / preschool): USD 1,640 per semester (USD 3,280 per year). - Kindergarten: USD 5,140 per semester (USD 10,280 per year). - Grades 1–5 (Elementary): USD 6,520 per semester (USD 13,040 per year). - Grades 6–8 (Middle School): USD 7,170 per semester (USD 14,340 per year). - Grades 9–12 (High School): USD 7,755 per semester (USD 15,510 per year). Billing schedule and payment terms - The school operates on a two-semester academic calendar; tuition is billed on a per-semester basis in line with that calendar. - To hold an offered place, the enrollment/new-student fee and the required tuition payment must be made promptly: space is held for two business days following admission and may be given to the next family if enrollment/new-student fee and tuition payment are not received within that window. Boarding fees - West Nairobi School is a private day school; there are no boarding fees because boarding is not provided. Other costs and recurring charges - Transportation (optional school bus): USD 1,200 per year (USD 600 per semester). - Instrument hire/rental (music): USD 200. - Educational Resource Services (ERS) placement fee: USD 100 (where applicable). - Senior fee (graduating class / senior-specific charge): USD 185. - Elementary school supplies charges (one-off / grade-based): ECLC & Kindergarten USD 25; Grade 1 USD 30; Grade 2 USD 35; Grades 3–5 USD 45. - Uniform: the school is listed by international school directories as not requiring a uniform. Refund information - The application and testing fee is non-refundable. - The New Student Fee (paid to secure a waiting-list placement) is fully refundable up until the open enrollment period begins; it will also be refunded if no spaces are available once the open enrollment period starts. Fee payment options - The application fee can be paid by bank transfer; bank account details are provided by the school on request. In some cases (for applicants arriving in-country), the testing fee may be paid in person at the business office. - The school uses standard admissions and student accounting systems (OpenApply / PowerSchool are listed as school systems), and families complete payment arrangements with the Director of Finance as part of the enrollment process. (Amounts and billing structure above correspond to the school's published/announced fees for the 2025/26 academic year and to the school's stated admissions and refund rules.)	Fee details Application / Registration Fees - Registration deposit (new students, once-off, payable to confirm a place): USD 1,000 per child. This registration deposit is deducted from the final term's tuition or may be rolled over annually. If a place is cancelled after payment of the registration deposit but before the start of term, the registration deposit is non-refundable; limited refunds of pre-paid tuition may apply under the school's notice rules. Tuition fees (per year and per term) Early Years Program (Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten) - 1/2 days, 3 days per week (Pre-School only): USD 3,975 per year (or USD 1,325 per term). - 1/2 days, 5 days per week: USD 5,250 per year (or USD 1,750 per term). - Full day, 5 days per week: USD 7,455 per year (or USD 2,485 per term). - Annual capital levy for Early Years (payable by parents): USD 300 per year. - Optional lunch: USD 750 per year (or USD 250 per term). Primary Years (Grades K–5) - Tuition (self-paid): USD 16,065 per year (or USD 5,355 per term). - Tuition (employer-paid category): USD 23,625 per year (or USD 7,875 per term). - Capital levy (self-paid): USD 750 per year. Capital levy (employer-paid): USD 1,000 per year. - Optional lunch: USD 990 per year (or USD 330 per term). Middle Years (Grades 6–8) - Tuition (self-paid): USD 16,905 per year (or USD 5,635 per term). - Tuition (employer-paid): USD 24,840 per year (or USD 8,280 per term). - Optional lunch: USD 1,080 per year (or USD 360 per term). Secondary / High School (Grades 9–11) - Tuition (self-paid): USD 18,195 per year (or USD 6,065 per term). - Tuition (employer-paid): USD 24,960 per year (or USD 8,320 per term). - Optional lunch: USD 1,140 per year (or USD 380 per term). Optional and additional recurring fees - Transport (termly rates vary by route and by child order): examples shown in the fee schedule include termly amounts by route with first-child rates and reduced second/third-child rates (term examples: USD 1,160 / USD 585 / USD 930 per term depending on route; reduced rates apply for additional siblings). Late-afternoon bus options are charged separately (examples: USD 235 once-per-week; USD 465 twice-per-week). - Learning support and specialist services: one-to-one support is priced case-by-case; internal supplementary services example: USD 4,800 per annum; hybrid vocational services example: USD 6,000 per annum. A service-processing surcharge (10–15%) may apply where third-party specialist services are paid through the school's finance office. - Sibling discount: 5% discount on tuition for each additional child from the same family (applies to tuition only). Annual capital levy is not discounted. Billing schedule and payment terms - Academic-year category and due dates (2025/26 schedule example): Fees for Term 1 are due no later than 25 August 2025. A 5% discount on annual tuition is applied when the full year's tuition is paid in advance prior to the start of the school year (example date given: on or before 22 August 2025). Late payments attract a penalty of 2% per month on outstanding amounts. Payment-plan arrangements are available for a plan fee (examples in the schedule: USD 150 per year); payment-plan installments are required to follow the school's prescribed timetable (first installment on or before the first day of school, second one month later, final installment two months after the first day of school). Families are liable for the full term's fees once a term has commenced. Boarding fees - Boarding: Woodland Star's published fee schedules and finance policy list day-student tuition, transport, lunch, capital levy and related charges and do not include a separate boarding fee line item. No full-boarding fee schedule is provided in the published fee schedule. Other costs (uniforms, materials and incidentals) - Uniforms, stationery and personal school equipment are additional costs payable by families; the fee schedule treats these as separate, variable expenses rather than a fixed recurring school fee. Costs for uniforms and first-term starter packs are charged separately and vary by item and supplier. Refund information and withdrawal notice requirements - Notice required to avoid further term charges: Families wishing to withdraw a child must give one full term's notice (i.e., notice on or before the last day of the school term that precedes their child's final term). If notice is given less than a full term but before the next term starts, parents are required to pay 75% of the following term's tuition; where tuition for the following term has already been paid the school will reimburse 25% of that term's tuition. If a student leaves part-way through a term, families remain liable for the full term's tuition. Pre-paid lunches are refundable pro rata if a family leaves part-way through a year; pre-paid transport is not refundable. Specific provisions apply to refunds where learning support services have been engaged. The registration deposit is refundable in line with the published policy when applied as described, but is non-refundable if a place is cancelled after payment and before term commencement in certain circumstances. Fee payment options and charges - Bank transfer to school accounts (Kenyan Shilling account details and international transfer instructions are provided in the school's finance information). - Credit card payments are accepted at the finance office; a credit-card processing surcharge applies (example: a 3% surcharge when paying by card). Other local payment methods and the option to arrange approved payment plans are available through the finance office. Payment instructions, required references and bank details are provided by the school's finance office. Late-payment and non-payment consequences (penalties, withholding of reports/transcripts, and potential exclusion from classes until accounts are cleared) are stipulated in the finance policy.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details North American curriculum taught in English for Kindergarten through 12th grade. AP courses are offered, including the AP Capstone Diploma program, with a broad range of offerings such as Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, European History, Human Geography, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Music Theory, Physics 1, Physics C: Mechanics, Psychology, Research, Seminar, Statistics, US Government & Politics, US History, and Modern World History. Online classes are available through NorthStar Academy (accredited by AdvancED). The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). The school year has two semesters (175–180 instructional days); the first semester runs August–December and the second January–May/June. Graduation requires two diploma tracks: College Preparatory Diploma (24 credits) and Academic Honors Diploma (27 credits).	Curriculum details The school uses an international and individualized curriculum.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio 1:8	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates go on to college or university in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.	Higher education progression Graduates are prepared for universities around the world.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Paperwork Submission: Documents include transcripts for the previous two academic years for first through eighth grades; transcripts for the previous four school years for ninth through twelfth grades; standardized testing for the previous academic year; birth certificate or proof of birth date; completed Health Assessment Form; photo/information page and dependent page/pupil pass page of passport; letter of recommendation or reference form from the previous school may be requested; leaving certificate/letter from the previous school. An admissions/placement test is conducted after the Application Fee is paid. Parents/Guardians and students may be asked to meet with the principal. Results of the test will be communicated to the family within ten business days after testing. Prior to enrollment, the admissions director will schedule a meeting between the family and the director of finance. Prior to enrollment, the admissions director will schedule a meeting between the family and the transport manager if transport is required. Space will be held for two business days following admission. If the enrollment fee (accepted before the school year begins) or the new student fee and tuition payment (once school has begun) are not paid within two business days, the space may be given to the next family. Admitted students may begin classes two business days after the new student fee and tuition payment is paid.	Admissions 1. Rolling admissions are offered throughout the year, provided there is space in the appropriate classroom, for students aged two to thirteen. The school accepts applicants year-round in a manner that respects class capacity and diversity of learners. The program welcomes students with special educational needs on a case-by-case basis and considers readiness for entry into the school. 2. Selection is based on five criteria: learners must demonstrate school-readiness; there must be available places in the class (with maximum class sizes defined to maintain quality); the school must be able to meet the learner's support needs; the parent/guardian's ability to pay fees (with or without financial assistance); and whether the learner can cope with the medium of instruction. 3. The application process begins with completing the online application form and submitting it to the school. Primary and middle-year applicants must also provide documents including a completed school character/reference form from the previous school, previous school reports, standard examination/assessment results if available, and any relevant additional documentation such as IEPs or assessments. 4. If further academic assessments are deemed necessary, the school may require testing or evaluations to be completed by an external evaluator, at the parents' expense. 5. A credit reference check may be undertaken, which may include contacting the current school. 6. The application is screened for eligibility by school leadership against the stated criteria. 7. If necessary, the learner and the parent(s)/guardian(s) may be interviewed as part of the admissions process. 8. If the application is successful, the parent(s)/guardian(s) sign a financial agreement and pay a registration deposit of $1,000, which is rolled over and applied to the tuition fees of the last term of the academic year. 9. The parent(s)/guardian(s) sign an agreement to uphold the Village Rules and the school's policies and procedures. The principal informs the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the admission status, and reasons for non-admission can be provided on request.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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